ABC set to slash TV and radio jobs, as focus goes online

Sarah Whyte

The ABC is set to dramatically overhaul its online and mobile reach, as staff brace for significant staff and programming cuts to be announced on Monday.

Fairfax Media understands the public broadcaster will reinvest in a digital division, which will re-focus core ABC programs towards online, mobile and tablet audiences, a move that could create up to 100 new jobs.

Protests: Hundreds of people gathered in Federation Square, Melbourne, to rally against cuts to the ABC. Photo: Paul Jeffers

ABC has confirmed the digital investment will take place.

On Monday staff will be briefed by managing director Mark Scott about the changes. It is expected 400 jobs will go in targeted redundancies, as the ABC searches for $254 million in savings after the government's funding cut.

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This includes: the number of managers and administrative staff in ABC television, news and radio; centralising internal mail; selling the car park in Lanceley Place in Artarmon; and renegotiating key contracts. By combining transmission costs of ABC and SBS the broadcaster could save another $30 million, the Abbott government says.

Rallying against the federal government's plans for severe cuts to the National Broadcaster. Photo: James Brickwood

But despite this, programs are likely to go. Local radio stations, Radio National and Classic FM are expected to be hit, with an estimated $6 million being ripped from the radio division. The cuts will mean a decrease in the number of music concerts recorded by Classic FM.

Mr Scott told the Weekend Australian the ABC would be investing more in online and mobile services.

"We have let a thousand flowers bloom in our online and mobile services, but we can't do everything we may have wanted to do and we will need to focus our online and mobile ­development around key products and ensure we have a clear sense of priority and focus," he said.

In an impassioned speech on Sunday, the Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said: "This Government is not just cutting the ABC, it is laying waste to the moral basis of our public, democratic life.

"And do not be fooled by Malcolm Turnbull – his crocodile tears count for nothing as he lifts the axe," he told protesters in Melbourne.

"It's an uncomfortable time for everyone," she said. "In all honesty, we don't know what cuts will be made. It's very hard when you don't know what resources you have."

An ABC spokesman said: "After months of uncertainty, as the ABC waited for the final size of budget cuts from the federal government, managing director Mark Scott now welcomes the opportunity to discuss with staff the impact of those cuts in a series of meetings around the country this week."